Cafetalk 講師專欄

Do you have questions? Tutors are here to help!

We can sometimes feel shy when working with a tutor.  However, our tutors are here to help!  They l...

Happy Birthday to me!

It's my birthday!   No, not my actual birthday...unfortunately that falls in late December ;-)   It...

【湘南ライフ#04】江ノ電｜JP/EN/繫中

湘南を代表するもののひとつが、江ノ電です。正式名称は「江ノ島電鉄」。藤沢から鎌倉までを結ぶ小さなローカル線ですが、観光客にも地元の人にも愛されています。 江ノ電の魅力のひとつは、家と家の間をすり抜け...

How We Deal With Snowstorms

In the past year, I moved from the Seattle area of Washington state in the USA to (virtually) the m...

Tarot: A.I. versus Human

Can AI read tarot accurately? Yes. Somewhat. Is it better than a human? It depends on how deeply y...

Study. Know Your Craft. Be Intentional.

Study Study is not just reading — it’s disciplined learning. It means understanding the theory, pr...

Canada at the Winter Olympics: The good, the bad, and the ugly

Photo: Canadian men's curling teamThe 2026 Winter Olympic Games have wrapped up, and Team Canada wa...

【日本の日常 #04】声優｜ JP/EN/繁中

日本のアニメは世界中で人気がありますが、日本では「声優」という存在そのものも、とても人気があります。アニメのキャラクターだけでなく、その声を担当する人にも注目が集まります。人気声優はさまざまな作品に...

Questions You Should Never Be Afraid to Ask Your Tutor

After nearly 13 years teaching Business English, I’ve noticed something interesting. The students w...

The Real Reason You’re Afraid to Speak English

Many English learners believe they are afraid to speak because their grammar is not perfect. But in...

The Pharaonic system….....to flee its captivity

The video discusses the concept of a "Pharaonic system" of governance, defining it as any autocrati...

Feeling inadequate is not a verdict. It is a phase.

The problem is not the feeling — it’s the conclusion we attach to it. Inadequacy often whispers: “Y...

【台湾旅行 #00】はじまり｜ JP/EN/繁中

3月の終わりごろ、3泊4日で台湾に行くことになりました。   今回の旅行は、主人の勤続20周年のお祝いです。 家族でその節目をお祝いできたらと思い、台湾へ行くことにしました。   今回は台北から入り...

Preparing for an Online Lesson (especially if you're nervous!)

I've had a number of people tell me they get nervous before their first session with a new teacher,...

【日本の日常 #03】2月22日は猫の日｜ JP/EN/繁中

2月22日は「猫の日」です。理由はとても日本らしいもの。数字の「2」を「にゃん」と読む語呂合わせから、「にゃん・にゃん・にゃん」で猫の日になりました。日本では、数字の読み方を使った語呂合わせがよく見...

Self-Motivation Is Hard — But a Positive Mindset Is Power

Let’s be honest: self-motivation is not always easy. There are days when you feel tired, discourage...

Why Singing Is the Best Way to Fix Your Accent

【湘南ライフ #03】700年以上続くメンテナンス｜JP/EN/繫中

鎌倉のシンボルである「鎌倉大仏」。この大仏様がなぜ外にいるのか、ご存知でしょうか？もともとは立派な「大仏殿（建物）」の中に安置されていました。しかし、14世紀と15世紀に相次いだ台風や大津波によって...

“If You Could Master One Skill Overnight, What Would It Be?”

Imagine waking up tomorrow with one new skill mastered. Would it be speaking another language, play...

Prepare yourself before and online class

How to Speak When You Don’t Know the Word

One of the most frustrating moments in English is this: You are speaking. You are confident. You kn...

5 Effective Ways to Prepare for Your Online Lessons

I've been teaching online for some years, and I've noticed something interesting. The students who...

Daily English Upgrade #030: Say It Better — “Thank you” (natural, strong versions)

“Thank you” is great. These upgrades sound warmer and more natural. Simple upgrades: Thanks, I appr...

Why are you studying English?

We often feel anxiety when we are learning something new. When you are a beginner at a new language...

【東京駅周辺 #03】ジブリと日本テレビ｜JP/EN/繫中

東京駅から2駅、新橋駅の近くには、日本テレビの社屋があります。その外壁に設置されているのが、ジブリの世界観を感じさせる大きなからくり時計です。宮崎駿さんがデザインしたこの時計は、時間になると動き出し...

Practice Makes Your Message Shine

There are times when I'm eager to share my thoughts with others, but the words just won't come out—...

English Idioms Challenge - Week 5

Hey all! This is the fifth week of my English learning challenge: to try & use this idiom in yo...

Speak Better English: Embarrassing Stories #003

Speak Better English: Embarrassing Stories #003 Housing / Rent vs. Own / Cultural Differences “...

Delay hinders Progress

As tutors and learners, we must understand one principle clearly: delay is the enemy of growth. The...

Daily English Upgrade #029: Business Skill — Summarize + confirm action items

This makes you sound professional (and prevents mistakes). Useful phrases: Just to summarize, … So ...